Position:    Interim Communications Manager

Terms:     Temporary part-time contract: approximately three days/week, September through November, 2011, at our Vancouver office.

Reporting:    The Interim Communications Manager reports to the Public Affairs & Communications Director (“the Director”).

Description:    The Interim Communications Manager is a member of the Public Affairs and Communications Department and is responsible for managing and supporting the Creative Services and Communications Specialists teams to meet planned work objectives and provide excellent communications services and strategic counsel as needed. Working with the Director, the Interim Manager will also work with these teams to engage their expertise effectively in a strategic planning project this fall. This role is under review over this interim period.

Responsibilities include:

1. Team Leadership: support and coach the teams to maintain performance and champion team contributions to strategic planning and otherwise.

• Manages communications teams and allocation of team resources: confirms all communications resourcing plans; oversees service demands and priorities; supports Team Leads.
• Manages team performance: Working with Creative Services Team Lead, and guided by the annual departmental plan, support each team members’ annual work and performance planning. Supports Communications Specialists to confirm their annual work and performance plans. ”Keeps door open” for feedback from team members and provides individual performance feedback monthly.
• Manages team meetings and team building to sustain connection & engagement of team members. Attends departmental Team Lead meetings and feeds the flow of information internally to strengthen effectiveness of the department.
• Supports effective change management, involving team members in strategic planning and other organizational processes. Champions team contributions to organizational development. Advises the Director on evolving communications team structure and management roles.

2. Manages communications planning, integration and evaluation processes: manages integrated and aggregated DSF communications planning and reporting processes and outcomes.

• Develops and stewards DSF communications integration systems – shared calendar, Program Coordination Committee meeting integration updates, etc. – within department and within DSF
• Represents and champions integrated communications planning and reporting
• Coordinates, guides and reports on DSF communications strategy within planning & reporting processes
• In consultation with Team and Project Leads, and others, defines ongoing production priorities for the communications teams.
• Monitors progress against communications plans for projects, working effectively with internal stakeholders to resolve timing and resourcing issues.
• Supports Team Leads to manage their budgets according to plan
• Monitors and evaluates team impacts, including media impacts, profile of DSF spokespeople, online community measures, etc.
• Fosters close working relationship with Interim Public Engagement Manager;
• Collaborates to report on online community acquisition and stewardship strategies
• Collects, communicates and applies communications and public affairs learning within DSF to embed integration and improvement in approaches
• Supports Director with fundraising and key stakeholder relationship management for the department

3. Oversight of access to DSF spokespeople, brand and editorial content: Supervises work of Communications Specialists Team Lead to ensure timely, accurate and effective publications and media relations. Key tasks of the Team Lead include:

• Signing-off on all communications outputs across all formats: stewarding editorial, brand and reputation
• Reviewing and assigning media requests and provides messaging for DSF staff, CEO and David to act as effective spokespeople.
• Mobilizing and coordinating communications responses to teachable moments and other high profile issues

4. Specialist: as needed, provide communications strategic counsel and advice in support of DSF projects and core services

Other related duties as required.
 
Reporting staff:

1. Creative Services Team Lead: Eli
2. Specialists team: Ian H., Leanne, Gail, Jodi
3. Dotted line: Jode, Manon, Panos 

Qualifications & Skills:

Education and Experience
An undergraduate degree in communications or equivalent is required. A graduate degree is preferred. At least five years leadership experience in a communications function with demonstrated success in leading a communications team. Non-profit leadership experience preferred.

Skill set and qualities

• Strong values-fit with DSF’s mission: demonstrated through work or community involvement;
• Successful communications team management experience required: preferably including providing strategic communications services within a matrix (project and department) organizational structure; collaborative management style required;
• Communications consulting experience an asset: you are able to hit the ground running and quickly generate team results, you have experience assessing needs and applying “just enough” process improvement on the go;
• Change leader: You have experience navigating and leading change successfully from a middle management position. Understands and respects individual work styles and adapts style as required to effectively deal with a variety of individuals;
• Excellent communication skills; interpersonally and in public. Confident negotiation, facilitation and/or conflict management skills;
• Superb written and spoken English language skills required. French language skills as asset;
• Advanced writing skills – able to write quickly, clearly and strategically, with appropriate styles for different audiences;
• Sound media knowledge and experience – you understand what constitutes news and can develop, write and pitch potential news stories;
• A positive team-player who thrives in a busy environment, promotes change and is highly functioning in a dynamic and information-rich work environment.

Performance expectations & deliverables:

1. Team building results: Team members report feeling confident in the alignment and significance of their work.  Team Leads feel supported in their management functions.

2. Communications services results: The annual departmental plan is being effectively implemented; communications plans for projects are being well executed. Internal clients are satisfied with communications support received. Note: our fiscal year runs September through August.

3. Contribution to strategic planning: The Director is well supported to lead effective strategic planning and change management on behalf of the Communications teams. The team’s voice has been reflected in plans and structure decisions.